Member Benefits of Greater Cleveland Chapter

"Membership has its privileges" is a phrase that's been used by all kinds of organizations—not-for-profit and for-profit alike—to get people to pay the cost of becoming a member of the particular organization. The essential message of this slogan is that you receive something of value in return for joining the professional affiliation, country club, credit card company, etc. The secondary message is that the value received equals or exceeds the investment. Sometimes, the value can be quantified, but in many cases, the value of membership is more subjective and hard to define.

The good news about AFP membership is that many benefits are both objective and easy to define. Here are just a few elaborations on the following list of Member Benefits:

• True discounts to members on a number of AFP activities such as the Breakfast Roundtables and Luncheons.
• Exclusive access to the Member Gateway section at www.afpnet.org and the many members-only goods and services (Career Planner, Discussion Groups, Chapter Resources, Member Resources, Bright Ideas, Member Publications, Price Advantages, Compensation and Benefits Report and more.)

For anyone involved in fundraising for nonprofit organizations (including executive directors, chief operating officers, volunteers and even clergy) AFP membership opens the door to a wealth of useful information, through both formal and informal channels. The Greater Cleveland Chapter Directory itself is a member benefit and an invaluable tool for networking with colleagues in similar organizations, or who have similar responsibilities (special events, alumni relations, corporate/foundation/government support, etc.) Involvement on any of the more than twenty committees of the Greater Cleveland AFP Board is open to members, and an excellent way to network with colleagues and learn more about the profession and the community. To learn more about the committees and opportunities for involvement, check out our Get Involved page.

One Final Thought: Most people understandably invest in a membership to receive something of value in return. Whether you raise funds for a nonprofit organization as a paid staff member or as a volunteer, joining AFP is an investment in your career and the success of your organization. Some investments show an immediate return while others take longer. But with AFP membership, you'll not only experience immediate benefits but also acquire skills, knowledge and insights about fundraising that will serve you the rest of your career. The saying is true - "membership has its privileges."

• AFP Newsletter - Current topics in fundraising, legislative and regulatory updates, chapter news, and more.
   
• Professional Development - Access to continuing education opportunities offered locally and nationally. Members receive discounts on registration fees and local programs.
   
• Scholarships - Available for professional development, dues, travel expenses, etc. Click here for scholarship procedures and criteria.
   
• Luncheons - An opportunity to network with each other while learning about current issues in the fundraising profession through keynote speakers and panel presentations.
   
• Breakfast Roundtables - Free monthly morning sessions to discuss topics faced in today's fundraising environment.
   
• Audioconferences - A series of 90-minute programs on topics requested from the AFP Fundraising Resource Center. Offered by AFP International, the local chapter connects with these programs monthly.
   
• Mentoring Program - Opportunities to gain professional insight from senior AFP members, through mentoring relationships.
   
• Member's Night - Free networking and social event.
   
• Job Placement and Career Development - Structured networking opportunities to help members locate new positions in the field.

Member Benefits of International Affiliation

• Advancing Philanthropy - AFP's highly acclaimed bi-monthly magazine examines issues facing fundraisers and the philanthropic process.
    
• Resource Center - By calling 1-800-688-FIND, members have access to more than 3,200 reference works on various fundraising topics - for free.
    
• International Conference - The conference brings nearly 4,000 fundraising professionals together to discuss, teach, and learn about new development issues every spring.
    
• Legislative and Regulatory Issues - AFP monitors legislative and regulatory issues that affect fundraising and philanthropy and keeps members informed through legislative updates and action alerts.
    
• Professional Advancement - The International office offers a variety of courses for all levels of development professionals.
    
• AFP's Web site  - A variety of resources available to its members including: AFP membership directory, information and research, directory of consultants and resource partners, job openings and much more (www.afpnet.org).